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,. • Do we understand what commu- willing to participate? Communi- pity visioning really is? It is a ties are comprised of many key process of actively exploring and groups—city government, school anticipating the future and the districts, chambers of commerce, challenges to be addressed. It also business and civic organizations, means developing consensus and major employers, neighborhood having the discipline to implement associations—all of whom play a that consensus without caving in to role in creating, supporting and political expediency, one's own achieving the vision. All must be biases, or the pressures of specific willing to embrace the process, or "It is fundamentally a process groups and individuals whose their resistance and non-participa- agendas conflict with community tion can hamper its success. Also, of dreaming, exploring and consensus. are any groups that have been in staff d officials,Are our eecte st conflict with each other willing to creating—a means to give and community leaders comfortable explore the potential futures in a shape and direction to a sharing power with the community spirit of collaboration? Or will they community's thinking and and citizens? Community visioning just seize upon the visioning effort is a form of participatory democ- as another chance for further view of itself so that human racy that harkens back to the polarization and disruption? imagination and creativity original American democratic Is there a sense of stewardship experience. It can at times, be in that will continue the process and can increase the influence conflict with representative commitment to implementation? of the future over the government and its "representa- Community visioning and strategic present as the basis for tives." The key is not to fear planning frequently cover a period popular involvement but to use it of 20 years and must be refined and understanding and action." to forge new citizen-elected official updated regularly. Also, they_ partnerships that expand a transcend the term of office or • community's capacity to perceive tenure of many of the individuals and achieve. involved in their initial creation. Can the community visioning Successful visions require commit- process benefit our community, ment to stewardship and ensuring and do we really understand the successive generations of leaders products and outcomes it will who will continue the process, produce? There must be a clear keep it current, and sustain its expectation among all parties about potential for creating a better the process that will be used, the future. roles of various players, and what The future of our communities the effort will produce; i.e., a requires a barn-raising, rather than vision statement, specific goals, and a vending machine, mentality. strategies and plans for attaining Community visioning identifies "Community visioning these goals. and produces the changes we must identifies and produces Is the community ready to bring about in collaboration with the changes we dedicate the time and resources to others. These changes are essential do this community visioning process to achieving the vision and future must bring about well?A community visioning we want for our community, and in collaboration process can take six to 18 months for those individuals who will live and involves an extensive time some or the rest of their lives with others." commitment from those involved. within it. r The process also requires staff support, an adequate budget, ongoing community publicity and Carl Neu is executive vice president communications, and the services and general manager of NEW& of a professional facilitator. Vision- Company,providing resources and ing is not a casual undertaking. It is services for government. Telephone: intense, disciplined, time-consum- (303) 986-8487. This article • ing, hard work aimed at producing excerpted with permission from the rich rewards for the future. May June 1998 issue of Colorado Are the council and other key Municipalities, a publication of the groups publicly supportive and League of Colorado Cities. 6 MINNESOTA CITIES AUGUST 1 9 9 8